DeLay pulling out of Campaign so he can use Election Funds for Lawyers!

[KoKo]

Interesting article in WaPo shows that DeLay is pulling out so he can use the funds raised from his election campaign for his legal expenses. Also the funds from "Lobbyists who have business before Congress."
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Federal Probe Has Edged Closer to Texan
Two Ex-Aides Convicted, Another Also Named in Lobbying Investigation
By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer

Delay has assembled a substantial legal team to fight back, and he has a defense fund -- financed largely by corporations with business before Congress -- that contained more than $600,000 at the end of last year, based on the cumulative record of its receipts and contributions. But contributions to the fund dropped from $318,000 to $181,500 between the third and fourth quarters of 2005.

DeLay also is entitled under federal election rules to convert any or all of the remaining funds from his reelection campaign to his legal expenses, whether or not he resigns, is indicted or loses the election. Election lawyers say one advantage of bowing out of the election now is that the campaign cash can be converted to pay legal bills immediately, instead of being drained in the course of a bid to stay in office.

As of Feb. 15, when his campaign filed its most recent report with the Federal Election Commission, DeLay had $1,295,350 on hand. But that was two weeks before the Texas primary in which DeLay bested three Republican rivals to win renomination, and the pot of money available to him now may be considerably less.

By stepping aside so early in an election year, a lawmaker "wouldn't be spending to be reelected" and could transfer the funds immediately to fend off any federal charges, said lawyer Kenneth A. Gross, a former head of the FEC's enforcement division. The last lawmaker to gain the FEC's formal approval for such a transfer was Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), who resigned last November after pleading guilty to evading taxes and accepting bribes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040302145.html?sub=AR

[kentuck]

1. I think this is closest to the truth..

He can get a pretty good lawyer for $1.3 mil...

[acmejack]

5. He is certainly going to require the services of one!

I believe his stepping down is a tacit admission of guilt. At this point it must to be a matter of negotiating the most favorable deal he possibly can. They claim there is no honor among thieves, if that is so, think of the bodies of which this particular thief may know...

[LisaLynne]

2. You know, I was going to stupidly ask if that was legal, but then ...

I realized not only is it, but that even if it weren't, we're talking about Delay here. Why would he care?

I think this puts a little damper on the Freeper "oh, he's going to be acting as a consultant to Repugs" thing. He's going to be "consulting" as in naming names in an attempt to save his own sorry butt from jail.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Well, he's been laundering money for quite some time

so this doesn't suprise me at all. Have they started a Save Tom from the Liberal Activist Judges and Democrat Lawyers Fund yet?

Those poor Conned Republicans keep throwing good money at bad people.

[KoKo]

4. And, I didn't understand until I read this article why the move to VA

to that "little condo in Alexandria." Until I remembered that Alexandria is the home to the Ridnauer's right wing Mail Shop where millions of pleas for funds to help Tom and Christine will be mailed to our Senior Citizens asking for donations to Tom and Christines Foster Home for "Disadvantaged Children." The funds will find their way into the "Tom and Christine Legal Defense Fund" but given how clever they are it will take more years to sort that one out.

He and Christine will rake in tons of dough from that Operation and probably lots of all the Corporations he's given the big breaks to...all in the name of Charity.

He will probably get away with it ...since the Repugs aren't going to give up their many "shell charities" even if a few of them are being exposed.
They still think they own it all and a good legal team with the Supremes and the P-Resident on their side to say nothing of their buddies still controlling the House and Senate will vindicate them. I wonder if he will hire Bill Bennett or Ben Ginsberg ....perhaps Ted Olson or someone from "Baker/Botts" like maybe even "Big James Baker" himself to defend him. OOPS! I forgot...all those big names are probably going to be busy with the rest of the Crime Family in the coming years. Maybe Delay being first in line will still be able to pick from the creme of the crop, though. :puke:

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. Good points!

I didn't realize that about the charity either.

As far as the lawyers go, I thought he'd already retained one who he made certain the media was aware is "Democrat Lawyer". :shrug: